Health authorities in Beijing said they have identified the novel coronavirus behind Beijing's recent locally transmitted COVID-19 cases as the mutant strain first found in Britain.
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing center for disease control and prevention, told a press briefing Wednesday that the new strain was found on the two confirmed cases reported in Daxing District on Sunday.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed the finding and concluded it was the same mutant strain spreading in Britain, she said, adding that it is now believed that the strain arrived from overseas.
Beijing reported seven new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, of which six were in the Ronghui residential compound in Daxing.
